Pages

We read...

Monday, June 1, 2009

Save me from the Epic Fail

Musing Monday is hosted by Becca of Just One More Page. Pop over and read lots of interesting comments & post your own.

This week Bored-before-the-end-Becca’s post is about sticking with it…

How much time (or how many pages) do you give a book that you aren't really enjoying before you'll set it aside? If you're reading it for a book group discussion, or for review, will you give it more of a chance then, say, a book you're reading for your own interest? Why, or why not?(courtesy of MizB)

My friend Renae says there’s too many books and not enough time to punish yourself with a book you’re not enjoying and I DO try and follow this sage advice. Now you know there has to be a BUT coming didn’t you?…okay…BUT I often find myself slogging it out because of the epic-fail thing, I just hate giving up , on anything.

Becca commented on our last book club where some of us didn’t read the book. I finished it for a number of reasons:

1. it was a Booker prize winner and I’ve found award-winning books are worth the struggle. This theory was proven by The God of Small Things because it’s one of those books that stays with you and gets better the more you think time you spend in contemplation of its merits.

2. I don’t like going to bookclub with an unread book because of the teasing :) we didn’t tease each other about The God of Small Things though because so many found it a struggle and it’s a credible response to a book – no I didn’t like this one. (AND it’s a very laid-back bookclub full of lovely people who really just want an excuse to get together).

3. It was recommended by my good friend Tracey who seems to know what I’ll like because all of her recommendations have been right on so far.

4. I hate the feeling of failure when I can’t get through a book.

There are some books I can happily apply Renae’s rule to and give up on with a feeling of liberation. If the writing’s bad, moat small r romance, if it’s formulaic, has abundant swearing (b-o-r-i-n-g), or if there’s too much sex (yawn) I don’t waste my precious reading time. If it falls into one of these categories and is a bookclub nomination I’ll give it more of a go than otherwise but that’s so I can argue my point with conviction – I’m also a firm believer in never condemning a book I haven’t read.